Jackrabbit women add 11

Courtesy: SDSU Sports Info Release: 05/02/2013 08:43:37

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South Dakota State University women’s swimming and diving head coach Brad Erickson announced the additions of 11 standouts – 10 from the high school ranks and one collegiate transfer — who will begin competing for the Jackrabbits this fall.

The class of signees includes:

Kristi Alfano, Castle Rock, Colo.Alfano swam in four events for Castle View High School at the 2013 Colorado state championships, placing as high as 16th in the 100-yard breaststroke. She also competed in the 100 freestyle, 200 medley relay and 400 medley relay in making a return trip to the state meet. Alfano plans to major in exercise science.

Julia Bodnaruk, Lakeville, Minn. Bodnaruk qualified for the Minnesota state championships four times, posting respective finishes of eighth and 12th in the 200 freestyle during her junior and senior seasons at Lakeville North High School. She also was a finalist in the 100 freestyle the last two seasons and swam on multiple state-qualifying relay squads. Bodnaruk intends to major in mass communication.

Elizabeth Buchholz, Kiel, Wis.Buchholz is expected to swim the distance freestyle and backstroke events for the Jackrabbits after a standout prep career for the Kiel/Elkhart Lake-Glenbeulah high school program. She turned in three consecutive fourth-place finishes in the 500 freestyle at the Wisconsin state meet and also was a finalist in the 200 freestyle all four years, placing as high as seventh. She plans to pursue a degree in physical therapy.

Emily Campbell, Aberdeen (transfer from Boise State) Campbell made the decision back to her home state after a breakthrough season at Boise State, and will have two years of eligibility remaining. A nutrition major, Campbell earned all-Mountain West Conference honors in 2013 with fourth-place finishes in both the 100 and 200 breaststroke at the conference championships. She also is expected to contribute in the backstroke and individual medley events.

Brittney Engel, Des Moines, Iowa A diver, Engel showed steady improvement throughout her prep career at Dowling Catholic High School. She qualified for the state meet three times, placing 26th in the 1-meter competition as a sophomore, 14th as a junior and 12th as a senior. Engel has yet to declare a major.

Kendra Hinton, Winnipeg, Manitoba Hinton helped lea Prad Grant Park High School in the distance freestyle events during her prep career and was a provincial championship qualifier. She plans to major in English.

Mikayla Mayer, Woodbury, Minn. Mayer swam at each of the past four Minnesota state meets, placing as high as ninth in the 50 freestyle and 10th in the 100 freestyle during her senior season. She also was a member of several relay teams that qualified for the state finals. Mayer will major in graphic design.

Samantha Prasher, Carver, Minn.Prasher reached the finals of the 200 freestyle and also swam on a state-qualifying 400 freestyle relay team during her prep career at Chanhassen High School, but is expected to contribute primarily in the backstroke and butterfly events at the collegiate level. She intends to major in engineering.

Taylor Romans, Omaha, Neb. Romans was a three-time state qualifier in diving for Millard North High School. She reached the 1-meter finals twice at the state meet, finishing 10th as a junior and ninth as a senior. Romans plans to pursue a degree in physical therapy.

McKenna Shallberg, Fremont, Neb. A graduate of Archbishop Bergan High School, Shallberg represented Fremont High School in the 50 freestyle at three consecutive Nebraska state meets. After an eighth-place finish during both her sophomore and junior seasons, Shallberg recorded a sixth-place finish as a senior. She has yet to declare a major.

Alecia Winston, Phoenix, Ariz.Winston qualified for the Arizona state championships four times in helping lead Xavier College Prep to a state team title all four years. She recorded fourth-place finishes on the 1-meter board as a freshman and junior, along with a 13th-place showing as a sophomore and seventh-place finish her senior season. Winston is expected to major in secondary education.